Interactive media card

Abstract

A method is disclosed wherein a capsule is searchable, the capsule of data having data stored in multiple data stores. In use, a portion of the capsule is displayed and the searched data includes data that is not displayed but is retrievable via the search operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 providing a capsule comprising data therein to a first system, the data therein one of stored in association with the capsule and indicated by data within the capsule, the capsule and the data therein relating to an entity and associated therewith, the capsule provided from a second other system via a communication network; 
 displaying a visible portion of the capsule to an end user using an electronic display of the first system; 
 searching a predetermined subset of data within the capsule, the predetermined subset of data including data within the capsule not visible to the end user within the visible portion until searched or accessed, the predetermined subset of data relating to at least two different stores of information, the predetermined subset less than the whole and selected by the entity; and 
 displaying search results of searching to the end user using the electronic display of the first system. 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1  wherein each of the two different stores is independent one of the other, coupled to the communication network, and comprises data originating from the entity. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 2  comprising:
 searching a predetermined second subset of data within the capsule, the predetermined second subset of data including data within the capsule not visible to the end user within the visible portion until searched or accessed and different from the predetermined subset of data, the predetermined second subset less than the whole and selected by the entity. 
 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 3  wherein the predetermined second subset of data relating to at least two different stores of information independent one of the other and each coupled to the communication network. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1  wherein displaying search results comprises displaying search results relating to a search criteria and a media card from each of a plurality of different data stores coupled via the communication network, the search results displayed in a common interface. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 1  wherein displaying search results comprises displaying search results relating to a search criteria and a media card from each of a plurality of different data stores coupled via the communication network, the search results displayed within a media card. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 1  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule to an end user comprises displaying a graphic representation of data within the capsule, the graphic representation forming a customized view of some of the predetermined subset of data. 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 7  wherein the graphic representation comprises a static image linked to at least one of a dynamic media card element for supporting interactivity and an interactive graphic representation for supporting interactivity. 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 7  wherein the graphic representation comprises at least one of an attachment and data forming a link to external content. 
     
     
       10. A method of according to  claim 1  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises:
 retrieving a media card via the communication network with updated data; and 
 displaying a media card instance and wherein updated data is displayed each time the same media card instance is viewed. 
 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 10  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises retrieving data from an online database, the data stored in relation to a specific user, the specific user being the entity, the capsule including data relating to the online database and to the entity's account thereon, the data retrieved therefrom for access thereto within the capsule. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 11  wherein the online database comprises at least one of LinkedIn, FaceBook®, Plaxo®, Hotmail®, Gmail®, Twitter®, and MobileMe®. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 12  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises retrieving data from within the capsule, the data comprising personal contact data stored within the capsule. 
     
     
       14. A method of according to  claim 1  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises displaying a media card instance and wherein locally stored data is displayed each time the same media card instance is viewed and comprising; at intervals selectably updating the media card via the communication network with updated data. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 1  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises retrieving data from an enterprise storage location, the data retrieved therefrom for access thereto within the capsule. 
     
     
       16. A method comprising:
 providing a capsule comprising data therein, the data therein one of stored in association with the capsule and indicated by data within the capsule, the capsule and the data therein relating to an entity and associated therewith; 
 displaying a visible portion of the capsule to an end user; 
 searching a predetermined subset of data within the capsule, the predetermined subset of data including data within the capsule not visible to the end user within the visible portion until searched or accessed, the predetermined subset of data relating to at least two different stores of information both relating to a same entity; and 
 displaying search results of searching to the end user using the electronic display of the first system. 
 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 16  wherein the predetermined subset of data relating to at least two different stores of information, the predetermined subset less than the whole and selected by the entity. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 16  wherein each of the two different stores comprises data originating from the entity. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 16  comprising:
 searching a predetermined second subset of data within the capsule, the predetermined second subset of data relating to at least two different stores of information and including data within the capsule not visible to the end user within the visible portion until searched or accessed and different from the predetermined subset of data, the predetermined second subset less than the whole and selected by the entity. 
 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 16  wherein displaying search results comprises displaying search results relating to a search criteria and a media card from each of a plurality of different data stores coupled via the communication network, the search results displayed in a common interface. 
     
     
       21. A method according to  claim 16  wherein displaying search results comprises displaying search results relating to a search criteria and a media card from each of a plurality of different data stores coupled via the communication network, the search results displayed within a media card. 
     
     
       22. A method according to  claim 16  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule to an end user comprises displaying graphic representation of data within the capsule, the graphic representation forming a customized view of some of the predetermined subset of data. 
     
     
       23. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the graphic representation comprises a static image linked to at least one of a dynamic media card element for supporting interactivity and an interactive graphic representation for supporting interactivity. 
     
     
       24. A method according to  claim 22  wherein the graphic representation comprises at least one of an attachment and data forming a link to external content. 
     
     
       25. A method of according to  claim 16  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises:
 retrieving a media card via the communication network with updated data; and 
 displaying a media card instance and wherein updated data is displayed each time the same media card instance is viewed. 
 
     
     
       26. A method according to  claim 25  wherein displaying comprises retrieving data from an online database, the data stored in relation to a specific user, the specific user being the entity, the capsule including data relating to the online database and to the entity's account thereon, the data retrieved therefrom for access thereto within the capsule. 
     
     
       27. A method according to  claim 26  wherein the online database comprises at least one of LinkedIn, FaceBook®, Plaxo®, Hotmail®, Gmail®, Twitter®, and MobileMe®. 
     
     
       28. A method of according to  claim 16  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises displaying a media card instance and wherein locally stored data is displayed each time the same media card instance is viewed and comprising: at intervals selectably updating the media card via the communication network with updated data. 
     
     
       29. A method according to  claim 16  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises retrieving data from within the capsule, the data comprising personal contact data stored within the capsule. 
     
     
       30. A method according to  claim 29  wherein displaying a visible portion of the capsule comprises retrieving data from an enterprise storage location, the data retrieved therefrom for access thereto within the capsule.